From Slavery To Freedom From Our Technology

  Every Friday right before I light Shabbat candles I turn off my cellphone. With my phone off I am finally ready to welcome in the Shabbat- which literally means “rest.” Shabbat is “יום מנוחה”- the day of rest.  I am never truly at rest when my phone is nearby.  What work email just came in to which I need to respond? Did my daughter send me a photo on whatsapp from her trip?  Is there news from Israel?  My brain is never at rest.  (I must say that Tefillah or when I am teaching, when my phone is away, can be partial rest). And, I am an adult with some self-control and not very techy- so I actually still engage in non-technological contact with others. I cannot imagine what it is like for our children who have phones.  

Actually, I can imagine, as if you read my last week’s column you would know that I literally live the middle school life daily in my role.  That is why I congratulate and thank all of you who have signed the K-6  pledge “I will delay giving my child a smartphone and social media until after 8th grade.”  And, for those of you who signed the 7th and 8th grade pledge: “I will delay giving my child social media until after 8th grade”- thank you! (I appreciate the fact that many of you have already given your children phones before this pledge went out, and it is hard to turn back the clock).  We all know that you have given your children some menucha and they don’t have to wait for Shabbat to get that. Thank you. 

I know the research results are intuitive, but I will share them anyway. In the Journal of Developmental Psychology, a 2023 research review: “Longitudinal and Daily Associations between Adolescent Self-Control and Digital Technology Use”  shares that: 

Adolescents with poorer self-control may be less skilled in effortfully avoiding the development of habitual digital technology behaviors. Some users catch themselves reaching for devices without full awareness (Gomes et al., 2021) or mindlessly scroll social media (Baym et al., 2020)... may be especially vulnerable to these tendencies, and may be less likely to employ habit-disrupting strategies like removing visual and auditory cues, including keeping one’s smartphone out of sight or deleting specific apps (Nguyen, 2021).

In 1926 Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz advertised the opening of a new town in Long Island called Sabbathville.  In those days it was not so simple to keep Shabbos and he came up with the idea of a totally Shabbos- observant community.  And, while there were ads for the community in all the Jewish newspapers, it appears that the community never came to fruition.   But, every so often I wish I lived in Sabbathville.  Or more like “tech Sabbathville.”  

This town of Sabbathville reminded me of the Technology Shabbat I had come across when  I saw a link to a video by Tiffany Shalin on Technology Shabbat.  She describes an entire movement, popular even among non-Jews,  to choose one day to disconnect from technology and reconnect with the people in our lives.  It is an opportunity to stop “phubbing,” or snubbing a person in favor of your phone.   G-d was the first initiator of a Shabbat where He stopped creating and rested.   G-d even paused at the end of each day to take the time to look around and say כי טוב- it was good.   So too when we take a Tech Shabbat we mimic G-d and stop to enjoy and appreciate all that we have created throughout the hectic week. It provides us with the opportunity to rejuvenate, recharge and rewire our frazzled brains.  We, religious Jews, are lucky enough to have this day built into our halachic system.  But, perhaps we need extended Tech Sabbaths. 

As we approach Chag HaPesach- the chag when we go מעבדות לחירות- from slavery to freedom, I am truly worried that our children who have phones are slaves to their phones. And, the truth is, we are too. I recently came across some questions that if you answer yes to 5 out of 7, you are in a fact a slave to your phone: 

Do you look at your phone within a minute or two from hearing a beep or a buzz?

Do you look at your phone (for no other reason than checking who made contact) more than once every 20 minutes?

Do you reply to messages even while in the company of someone else?

Do you take your phone with you everywhere you go – even to the bathroom?

Do you often fall asleep with your phone in your hand?

Do you regularly use your phone after turning off the lights for bedtime?

Do you get anxious if you hear a beep or a buzz on your phone, but force yourself not to look at it right away?

Are your Apps set up so that you can see who is online at any given time?

Would you rather spend an hour communicating with friends on your phone than go walking with a friend while leaving your phone at home? 

And, again, to repeat that which we already know, as Adina Soclof shares in her article “Practical Advice in Managing Your Child’s Use of Technology," we are seeing that our children are enslaved and “addicted” to their technology.   They are constantly switching between devices.  We see extreme reactions when we take technology away. Impatience, irritability, restlessness, inability to focus. We see sleep disturbances and increased social difficulties/drama.

A research study by Common Sense Media reinforces these findings.  80% of teens said they checked their phones hourly and 72% said they felt the need to immediately respond to texts and social networking messages.  36% of parents said they argued with their children daily about device use.  77% of parents feel their children get distracted by their devices and do not pay attention when they are together, at least a few times each week.

Ironically, the limits that we place on our children and on ourselves are what free us from enslavement to our phones/devices.

        Similarly, it says that one might think that the limitations of the Torah are stifling and limit our freedom. It is actually the opposite, as it says in Avot 6:2:

וְאוֹמֵר (שמות לב) וְהַלֻּחֹת מַעֲשֵׂה אֱלֹהִים הֵמָּה וְהַמִּכְתָּב מִכְתַּב אֱלֹקים הוּא חָרוּת עַל הַלֻּחֹת, אַל תִּקְרָא חָרוּת אֶלָּא חֵרוּת, שֶׁאֵין לְךָ בֶן חוֹרִין אֶלָּא מִי שֶׁעוֹסֵק בְּתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה.

And it says, “And the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tablets” (Exodus 32:16). Read not haruth [‘graven’] but heruth [‘freedom’]. For there is no free man but one that occupies himself with the study of the Torah. 

The limitations placed on us by the Torah provides us with freedom from the Yetzer Hara and the inclination to do the wrong thing. 

Going back to Tiffany Shalin for a moment, she recommends a full 24 hours each week disconnected.  She is not religious, so for her Tech Shabbat (which she happened to choose as Saturday), she realized she needed items to take the place of her technology.  She recommends remembering to install a landline, and to get a radio or record player, a watch and a pen!  (Remember those?)

Speaking of a landline, I want to tell you about the wonderful landline we installed outside the school office since students are not allowed to bring phones to school. If a student forgets his sneakers, needs food for dinner before practice, or wants to know who is driving him home, all he needs to do is use the students’ landline. It has been absolutely life-changing for our school! And, I know some parents have shared with me that they plan on installing landlines in their homes as well. 

And, as Tiffany Shalin mentions, we do need something to take the place of technology use during the week. I recently attended Yeshiva University’s Stomp Out the Stigma night, where students share real-life mental health struggles with the audience.  One young man shared how when he was struggling he became addicted to his cellphone, even at times watching Netflix on Shabbat as it was the only way to soothe himself. Instead of our children seeking out technology to self-soothe (which I often see) we need to give them other strategies and even other activities to do in place of technology use. For some it’s sports or music. At the Stomp Out The Stigma event they handed out the newsletter of the Active Minds student organization that organized the evening. One student wrote about knitting and crocheting as an example of an activity that has been shown as a source of soothing and relaxing,  and a way to quiet one’s mind.

(I think I have already made my point, but while I am on the topic of technology, I want to add a conversation I had with a parent this week (not in sixth grade) who is frustrated that her son’s (who does not have social media) friends all have Snapchat…or at least that is what her son is saying. “Everyone has Snapchat.” It’s hard to know if that is true or not.  I know I have discussed this before, but Snapchat is really not safe for our children. Photos and videos appear to disappear after they are viewed, but anyone can take a screenshot- and if that is done with a different device there will not be an alert. And, we as parents cannot monitor “snaps” due to their disappearance. Snapchat is a platform for bullying and irresponsible/inappropriate posting). 

Pesach-  זמן חירותינו- the time of our freedom- is upon us. Let us keep in mind how to free ourselves and our children from the enslavement of technology. And, as we proclaim in the haggadah, הָשַּׁתָּא עַבְדֵי, לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה בְּנֵי חוֹרִין- Now we are slaves; next year we shall be free!

All I Really Need To Know I Learn From My Middle School Students

  Each year the middle school teachers dress up in a Purim costume according to a theme that is voted upon.  This year we dressed up as middle school students. With my ugg slip-ons (not exactly dress-code appropriate),  my oversized sweatshirt and my skirt from Ben Yehuda street that has become popular, I came to school dressed like my students. 

As I lived my day dressed as a middle schooler I considered how much of my days throughout the year I live the middle school life. While it was my first time actually dressing like one, I truly do spend most days trying to think like a middle school student and literally putting myself in their shoes,  so that I understand them better.  As parents, when our eldest child reaches the middle school years we often are unsure as we get adjusted to parenting someone that age. (We then quickly figure out that they too are unsure. Luckily, by our 2nd middle schooler we are old hands at managing middle school life!). But, I luckily have hundreds of students each year to learn about and learn from. I learn about how to help these middle schoolers from the middle schoolers themselves.  As it says in Taanit 7a:

וְהַיְינוּ דְּאָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: הַרְבֵּה לָמַדְתִּי מֵרַבּוֹתַי, וּמֵחֲבֵירַי יוֹתֵר מֵרַבּוֹתַי, וּמִתַּלְמִידַי יוֹתֵר מִכּוּלָּן.

And this is what Rabbi Ḥanina said: I have learned much from my teachers and even more from my friends, but from my students I have learned more than from all of them.

And, the truth is I learn a lot from my students that helps me see life differently…and better.  I recall the famous selection written by Robert Fulghum  All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.   These are the life lessons that Fulghum suggests are essential for all, that can easily be gleaned from kindergarten. 

1. Share everything.

2. Play fair.

3. Don't hit people.

4. Put things back where you found them.

5. Clean up your own mess

6. Don't take things that aren't yours.

7. Say you're SORRY when you HURT somebody.

8. Wash your hands before you eat.

9. Flush.

10. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

11. Live a balanced life - learn some and drink some and draw some and paint some and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

12. Take a nap every afternoon.

13. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.

14. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

15. Goldfish and hamster and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.

16. And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

As I became a middle school student for the day last week, I considered how “All I Really Need To Know I Learn In Middle School EVERY DAY.”  There are so many truisms about life that I learn from my students. And, while I see these lessons lived out in middle school life, I am much more careful as an adult to change the way I act because of them. 

1. Make an effort to be inclusive. It is miserable to feel excluded. 

A lesson learned and felt deeply each year when it comes to the group Purim costumes.  Every year I have students who find Purim to be an extremely painful time of year, as their peers dress in group costumes and they have no one who will include them. Additionally,  Bar/bat mitzvah years have intense social pressure. Coke and Pepsi, places to sit when there isn’t assigned seating…always needing to find someone with whom to “hang out.” And, of course, this could happen daily at the lunchroom table. And, don’t forget recess. Allowing others to join a game or hang out with you at recess when they don’t have a “place” at recess can be life-changing. I am so proud of our students who make an effort to invite someone or to include others who look as if they haven’t found a place.  As an adult, I make so much more of an effort to include others in shul, at smachot and at various get-togethers because of living the middle school life daily. 

2. Invite someone who may not have a place to stay.  

Speaking of bar/bat mitzvahs. I have learned the importance of reaching out to a boy who may live too far away to walk to a bar mitzvah and invite him to stay for Shabbat. 

3. It is okay to make mistakes. 

Middle school students are becoming more mature, can think more abstractly and thirst for independence. We consequently give them more choice and more “power.” While “with great power comes great responsibility” (Spiderman) it is also common to make mistakes as we grow. And, that is okay.  There will always be second chances.  Learning by trial and error is healthy. 

4. Independence is healthy, but we still need the support of others!

 For middle schoolers “others” are often their parents. Yes, we may not be as involved with their work in school or in their friendships or playdates as we were when they were in first grade. But, they still need us involved.  Not in a “helicopter parenting” type of way, but with guidance and hand-holding when needed. 

5. It is hard to work in groups. Compromise and yielding to the opinion of others are essential for success. 

For the first time students are asked to work independently in groups and chevrutot. I often remind myself of the discussions I have with students about how to work with others effectively, despite differing opinions, and how those differing opinions are what often lead to an excellent product.  Delegating is also an important skill.  This past week of color war was an important learning opportunity of how to work with others. And, especially when some students ended up not being on the same team as their best friends. 

6. We all forget things sometimes. 

The consequences of forgetting are often good teaching tools. It helps us learn to be more thoughtful and plan to avoid forgetfulness. 

7. There are others outside my immediate circle. 

Around the age of 12 our children enter the formal operational stage of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development when they realize that others experience life differently from the way they do. This is why at Yavneh we take advantage of this realization and involve the students in chesed activities. This is the perfect age to help reinforce looking at the lives of others and caring about them. Despite going through so many changes and a stressful time of life, they are able to think about others. It is our job, as the adults in their lives, to reinforce that focus. 

8. Stand up for someone who needs help. 

Whether in situations of bullying or social exclusion or just a not so nice comment in class, our middle schoolers are developmentally (as noted in #7) ready to stand up for others.  

9. We often do things we shouldn’t because we care too much about the opinion of our peers. 

The flip side of the positive “looking out for others” is that at times they care too much about others. Oftentimes middle schoolers will do or not do something just to avoid being teased by their friends or because they think they will be considered “cool.”  Hopefully we outgrow that by adulthood…

10. Sometimes friendships change.

It is okay for us to outgrow friends and make new ones. But, we must always be kind to all no matter what. 

11. Friends sometimes fight or disagree, but we can resolve issues skillfully. 

I find that middle school is often the first time students can resolve a conflict between friends with just some slight mediation and oversight. I am proud to see how students can truly speak to each other with honesty and tact at the same time. (Sometimes they need a little prep before to ensure that “tact”).  If only all adults could do the same. I find that even as adults, consulting with a friend or colleague as to how to resolve a conflict is often helpful.

12. Have fun and laugh!  

Middle schoolers remind me that it’s okay to just laugh, and have fun (and dress up in silly costumes on Purim!). My students keep me young at heart and no one knows how to have fun better than middle schoolers. 

I recently watched a TEDx video by Scott Guldin called “What We Can Learn From Middle Schoolers.” Guldin is a middle school teacher who speaks about what he loves about teaching middle school. This is all despite the fact that when people hear that he teaches middle school :”Ooh… They seem betrayed, bewildered and disgusted.  Why do they respond like that? Because even under the best of circumstances middle school is notoriously difficult- physically, psychologically and socially, and in a host of other ways I am sure you do not want me to enumerate.”  He continues to share how despite what the world thinks of middle school, he loves teaching middle school, and that middle schoolers “can teach us to be kinder, happier human beings.” 

He continues that middle school is often depicted as “Chaos in minds, bodies, relationships and emotions. The efforts of middle school students are heroic and worthy of emulating. Life is really adolescence ripped large.  We spend our whole time on earth grappling with what is essential to the middle school experience.  We are going to struggle with the ways our bodies betray us. We are going to wonder, ‘Who are our friends really?’ We are going to fight with and reconcile with our family members. We are going to admit, if only to ourselves, that our parents were right all along. And we’re going to wonder, ‘How can I have my voice heard?’ Trying to do the right thing even if it’s the hard thing and even if it’s unpopular. I feel so proud to teach middle schoolers. It’s because of a middle schooler’s willingness to do the right thing even if it’s hard. Even though they are flawed and frustrating- they are resilient and courageous and beautiful they can teach us how to live if only we are humble enough to listen.” 

As we heard from our children’s teachers today at parent-teacher conferences, we may have left proud or perhaps a bit frustrated. As we sit with our children to debrief what was shared, let us remind ourselves that the middle school years are not easy.  There is so much for them and for us to learn. But, in essence, everything we really need to know we can learn from our middle school students.  And… what we are learning may change each day, and might be difficult at times, but overall let us focus on all the valuable life lessons we are learning from them. 

Shema- A Key To A Restful Sleep

         As I have shared in this column before, one of the highlights of my week is teaching my Navi/Beur Tefillah class.  This past week we took some time to learn about Keriat Shema Al HaMita, the Shema one says before one goes to sleep. When we begin a Beur Tefillah unit I try to focus on a part of davening that does not get a lot of attention, but is a mainstay of Jewish life and inspiration. 

We learned about the content of the bedtime Shema. The theme of forgiving others and hoping for others to forgive us is how we begin.  We pray for Hashem to give us a peaceful sleep. We thank Hashem for protecting us through difficult times. And, we are grateful that Hashem watches over us and will return our soul in the morning when we awake.  We end with Adon Olam highlighting the words (which we often do not notice during tefillah)

 בְּיָדוֹ אַפְקִיד רוּחִי, בְּעֵת אִישַׁן וְאָעִירָה

  Into His hand I entrust my spirit, when I sleep and when awake

While the Shema has many spiritual messages for us, we also focused on the psychological benefits of ending one’s day with Keriat Shema Al HaMita. 

In the article “Bedtime Shema- All’s Well That Ends Well” (Chabad website, author unknown)  it discusses why the bedtime Shema routine is good for your mental health.  “Psychologists who study dreams tell us that the last five conscious minutes of our day determine what we’ll be dreaming about at night. And we all know that how we slept at night determines a lot of how we perform the next day.” 

We know all the research about the importance of disconnecting from technology before bed- allowing one’s brain to rest. What we do in bed before we sleep should relax one’s mind, and end the day. There has been much research on how to quiet one’s mind at the end of the day.  Of course, once we get into bed, all our worries come to the fore. Some recommend a journal as a mindful way to evaluate the day, accept what happened and most importantly to let it go.  I find that saying Shema plays the same role. It ends the day. It gives you the ability to draw a line between today and tomorrow. It allows you to “let it go.” 

Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, in his article “How To Quiet Your Mind.”  Rabbi Goldberg begins by sharing research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that says that a third of people are not getting the seven hours of sleep needed and it is “an escalating public health crisis.”  Many are having a hard time falling asleep and are resorting to medications to help them sleep. 

“We are living in a time of unprecedented noise; we can hardly hear anyone or anything let alone hear our own inner voice. If we are to be our best selves, we need to quiet so many of the distracting sounds and voices around us and in us…  Some are constantly thinking about every possible problem that could arise, every reason they won’t succeed, everything that could go wrong. For others, the mind is filled with the noise of trying to juggle a million things, emails to return, phone calls to make, people to visit, tasks to get done, people to make happy. For yet others, the mind is overloaded with keeping up with the news cycle, with social media, pop culture, work, home and more. The common denominator is a cluttered mind, a distracted existence…. Who can find peace while awake or calmly fall asleep when your mind is on overdrive, constantly bombarding you with thoughts, worries and things to do?”

I maintain that saying the bedtime Shema can be part of the solution. The importance of shutting down one’s mind is more essential than ever. 

So, why do we begin the bedtime Shema with the words,  “Master of the Universe! I hereby forgive anyone who has angered or bothered me, or has sinned against me . . .May it be Your will, Hashem, my God and God of my fathers, that I shall sin no more nor repeat my sins, neither shall I again anger You nor do what is wrong in Your eyes”- focusing on forgiveness?  When one thinks about the research to ensure restful sleep, these words are a perfect way to leave the day behind: 

Sleep is a journey. As with any journey, you’ll come back more refreshed if you travel light. So now’s the time to leave the baggage behind—meaning, all those grudges and hard feelings that may have been collecting over the day.

We often end the day in bed thinking about the interactions we have had with others that were hurtful or regrettable. The Shema is a way to leave those feelings behind and start fresh the next day. 

Saying Shema before bed is a way to pause, to empty one’s mind. Now you say the Shema Yisrael, declaring that behind all that happened today there is only One G‑d. Say it with intense mental focus and it cleanses the soul. And, we close our eyes when we say the first line to ensure that we concentrate on what we are saying and nothing else. 

The author explains that saying the Shema accomplishes the 6 R’s:

Re-examine- one’s day. Look for the positives and let go of the negatives

Relax- Pause. Let go of the “maddening” thoughts of the day. Empty your mind.

Repent- Let your “mess-ups” go

Refresh- And forgive the mess-ups of others. Fresh start tomorrow.

Refocus- After the introductory paragraphs, you say the Shema Yisrael, declaring that behind all that happened today there is only One G‑d. Say it with intense mental focus and it cleanses the soul.

Re-entrust- Finish with the Hamapil blessing, requesting a peaceful night, entrusting your soul into G‑d’s faithful hands, and praising Him for that which you witnessed today, that His glory illuminates the entire world. 

I will add one more “R”- reflection. Quiet reflection is a wonderful way to get to sleep with a “quiet mind.” 

And, there is much research on stopping before one goes to sleep to reflect on what we are thankful for. In a research study Dr. Robert Emmons,  a group of participants were asked to focus on gratitude before bed.  The majority of participants who were in the gratitude group showed “significantly higher positive affects, satisfaction with their lives, optimism and, most remarkably, they slept better.”  They slept more hours each night, fell asleep more  quickly and woke up feeling more rested. All from just practicing gratitude before bed. These results have been replicated over and over.  Shema is another opportunity for that pause for gratitude- for all that Hashem does to take care of you throughout the day. 

And, all these tips can be applied to the bedtime routines we practice with our children- from even a young age. 

  And, of course, there is a plethora of research on the importance of having a bedtime routine each day- for both children and adults, in helping one’s body and brain be ready for bed,  ensuring good sleep and minimizing problematic sleep behaviors. The Keriat Shema recitation, and all of the above that it accomplishes,  is an important nightly routine to facilitate sleep.

At the same time I was teaching a unit on Keriat Shema with my students,  I coincidentally came across Shema in a different setting around the same time. I have been attending a series of shiurim on Tehillim by Mrs. Peshi Neuburger.  In learning about the battle of Dovid HaMelech with Goliat, we focused on the pasuk in Shmuel 1, 17:16

טזוַיִּגַּ֥שׁ הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖י הַשְׁכֵּ֣ם וְהַעֲרֵ֑ב וַיִּתְיַצֵּ֖ב אַרְבָּעִ֥ים יֽוֹם:

And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

Why did Goliat go out to skirmish with the Jews every morning and every evening? Rashi quoting the Gemara in Sotah 42b says,

השכם והערב.  אמרו רבותינו (סוטה מב ב): כדי לבטלם מקריאת שמע:

Our Rabbis said: (He did this) in order to prevent them from reciting ‘Shema.’

The Gemara in Sotah 42a explains: 

״וְאָמַר אֲלֵיהֶם שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל״. מַאי שְׁנָא ״שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל״? אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי, אָמַר לָהֶן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: אֲפִילּוּ לֹא קִיַּימְתֶּם אֶלָּא קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע שַׁחֲרִית וְעַרְבִית — אִי אַתֶּם נִמְסָרִין בְּיָדָם.

The Torah says about the priest anointed for war: “And he shall say to them: Hear Israel” (Deuteronomy 20:3). The Gemara asks: What is different in this setting that necessitates the usage of the phrase: “Hear Israel”? Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to the Jewish people: Even if you have not fulfilled any mitzva except reciting Shema of the morning and the evening, you will not be delivered into the hands of your enemies. 

There is some power to the prayer of Shema that if they truly say it with kavana they will win against their enemies. Goliat knew the power of the Shema and he consequently tried to distract them from that mitzvah. It is something about the emunah and the connection to G-d that this tefillah creates that will lead to their victory and their ability to persist during difficult times.

 This Gemara particularly struck home to me during the ongoing war in Israel when hearing over and over about the belief in G-d that has developed during this war. And, it was highlighted even more yesterday after hearing Rachel Goldberg, wife of Rabbi Avi Goldberg, z”l who was killed in battle.The incredible emunah that she has is what is keeping her going during this difficult time.  

As we approach Purim this week, we focus on that no matter how desperate things appear to be, Hashem can save us in the end. Rachel Sharansky Danziger, who introduced Rachel Goldberg, shared that while the Jews were going through the battle of Chanukah or the terror of their potential annihilation of Purim, they did not know that things would turn out well in the end. They persisted with emunah. So too in Israel today. We battle with no end in sight, but we believe that Hashem will step in. And, especially during Purim, which was a time of הסתר פנים- when Hashem’s “face” was hidden, no one knew definitively that they would prevail. But, it was emunah that kept them going. 

This Gemara In Sotah highlighted for me one more purpose/accomplishment of the bedtime Keirat Shema is our time to reiterate our emunah and belief that Hashem takes care of us. “Religion serves as a resource for coping with negative life experiences and existential fear, ”   states Dr. Clay Routledge.  One can more easily relax one’s mind before bed knowing and believing that Hashem will take care of you.  And, simply the practice of sharing our worries with Hashem before bed lightens one’s heart. 

As I shared with my students, Keriat Shema Al HaMita is not just a mitzvah. It is a mindful way to end one’s day with tranquility and hope. 

Advisory Update:

Sixth Grade-  Student did a “How Are We Doing?” lesson to check in to see how school is going.

Seventh Grade: Students learned about the impact of “upbeat thinking.” 

Eighth Grade:  Students began a unit on honesty versus cheating.